Improvement in mechanical movements



J. H. CRANSTON.

Mechanical Movements.

Patented Dec. 9,1873.

E -Ina gfin TTNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JOHN H. CRANSTON, or NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To CHARLES POTTER, JR, or NEW YORK oITY.

IMPROVEMENT IN MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Leiius Paiint No. 145,402, dated DE'CCIlIlH r 9, 1873; application filed November 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. GRANSTON, of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements relating to Mechanical Motions for Printing-Presses and Analogous Machines, of which the following is a specification I control the motion of the anti-friction rollers under the bed by novel means. I employ on each side of the press a lever turning on a fixed axis, and connected to the bed by one end, and to a set of rollers by the middle, so that as the bed reciprocates, the lever shall vibrate, and the rollers shall be compelled to move to an extent equal to exactly half the motion of the bed.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the lower portion of a printing-press containing my invention. This figure represents the novel parts with so much of the other parts as is necessary to indicate their relations thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar outline diagram, indicating the pasition of the parts when the invention is embodied in a modified form of the mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is the fixed framework of the press, and a the fixed center or axis on which the lever turns. B is the reciprocatin g bed, which carries the form of types, and, as it vibrates, passes under the cylinder, the inking-rollers, and other ordinary parts. (Not represented.) O is a frame, which carries the rollers D. It will be understood that there are two sets of rollers, one under each side of the bed, and that the arrangement in this respect, as also the construction of the rollers and the roller-frames, may be of any ordinary or suitable character. I construct a lever, G, in two parts, sliding one within the other, after the fashion of a telescope tube. The lower portion turns on the axis a. The upper portion is connected by a pin, 9, to the bed B. As the bed reciprocates, the lever G vibrates,

and also elongates and contracts by the sliding of one of its parts within. the other. On the side of the roller-frame C is rigidly secured a piece, 0, which extends down, as shown, and carries a swiveling piece, H, which em braces the lever G, and accommodates itself to the various inclinations thereof, by swiveling freely 011 a pivot or trunnion, h, (shown in dotted lines,) whichrconnects it with the arms 0. The roller-frame O, and consequently the center of the pivot or trunnions h, travels with exactly half the velocity and to exactly half the extent of the bed 15. The center of the trunnions h should, therefore, reciprocate back and forward in a path parallel to the path of the center of the pivot g, and exactly midway between it and the center a. In the working of the press, the lever Gr, thus mounted and connected, compels the proper movement of the roller-frame O, and consequently of the rollers, and effects this end with simple and cheap mechanism.

Fig.2 is an outline diagram, showing a modification in which a lever correspon ding in position and function to the lever G is nearer to one end of the machine, and is connected to the bed I) and the roller-fral'ne O, at the proper levels, by means of links. The points of 0011- nection and the angular position of the links relative to the bed and roller-frame re arranged so that the motions correspond to that in Fig. 1, and the motion of the roller-frame is necessarily simultaneous with, and with exactly half the velocity of, the reciprocating bed.

The importance of employing some means for controlling the position of the rollers in printingpresses is very generally acknowledged, and several inventions have been previously made by myself and others to attain the end. The present device is an improvement on any before known to me. It is simpler and less noisy than gearing, and by acting all the time controls the position in every part of the motion, and is more efficient than simply employing stops, which act only at or near the ends of the motion. The sliding motion of the lever Gr within the swiveling piece H is slight, and involves little friction or objection. The motion of the parts of the lever Gr one within the other is greater; but both can be easily connected to the roller-frame O at a point equidistant bctween such connection and the center of motion a, so as tocontrol the roller-frame G in all parts of the motion substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of October, 1873 in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. H. ORANSTON.

Vitn csses:

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